“Wine gives one ideas whereas Champagne gives one strategies.” – Roman Payne

Dear Arthur’s Cellar Wine Club Member:

Fine Champagne is indeed a wonderful thing and it doesn’t get much better than the superb range of very well-priced, award-winning bubbly produced by Champagne Forget-Brimont. We are bringing back the tried and true favourites –Brut 1^er Cru; Extra Brut 1^er Cru and Rosé Brut 1^er Cru along with the 2005 Vintage (Millésime) 1^er Cru Champagne. And, for those very special strategic occasions, we are including three limited edition treats - the exotic Rosé Brut Grand Cru, the stellar Blanc de Blanc Grand Cru and the brand new and very exclusive 2006 Vintage “Bulles d’Argent”.

Champagne Forget-Brimont

When we first got into the wild and wacky wine business eleven years ago, the Ontario Alcohol and Gaming Commission would not grant us our agency license unless  we already represented at least one winery in Ontario (Joseph Heller of Catch 22 fame would have loved this dilemma). Champagne Forget-Brimont was one of the three brave wineries that first signed on! Since then they have become a real favourite with the members of Arthur’s Cellar Wine Club and have helped us all celebrate countless occasions, special and otherwise.

Michel Forget is the sixth generation Forget to follow the family’s wine-making tradition. Louis Forget created his vineyard at the beginning of the 19th century and Eugène established the family label in 1920 (with a production of only a hundred bottles).

The eighteen hectares of Forget-Brimont vineyards are located in the terroirs of the Montagne de Reims (Mailly-Champagne and Verzenay - Grand Crus Pinot Noir), Ludes and Rilly-la-Montagne (Premier Cru Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay). Michel Forget also buys Grand Cru Chardonnay for blending. Each year over 180,000 bottles leave the Forget cellars to help celebrate victories and assuage defeats for champagne fanciers around the world.

In 2000 Michel was joined by Frédéric Jorez who, as general manager, is in charge of all of Champagne Forget-Brimont’s operations.

Our experiences with Champagne Forget-Brimont would not be so delightful were it not for Eva Schubert who oversees the marketing activities of the Champagne house.

No question about it, the Forget-Brimont champagnes are all terrific. As well they should be. First, all the grapes come from premier and grand cru vineyards. They use only “cuvées”, the first and best juice that flows from the press. The taille, the coarser juice that comes later is sold to others.  Michel Forget personally oversees absolutely every aspect of the creation of these meticulously crafted champagnes.

The Champagnes on Offer

We are thrilled to bring back the very popular Champagne Forget-Brimont Rosé Brut 1^er Cru. We also have six other delicious Champagnes available along with two mixed cases, the ‘Forget-Brimont 1^er Cru Sampler’ and the ‘Forget-Brimont Grand Cru Sampler’. All of them contain 12.0 percent alcohol by volume and come in convenient six-bottle cases. Some also come in twelve-bottle cases at a discount of a whopping one dollar the bottle. The Premier Cru Champagnes contain more than twenty-five percent Grand Cru juice. While drinking very well now, they will develop additional depth and character with a year or two in the cellar. The last day to order will be Friday, September 2nd.

Here’s what Alison Napjus says about it in the December 31, 2012 edition of the ‘Wine Spectator’ – “Firm and focused by racy acidity, this is lightly chalky in texture, offering tightly knit flavors of ripe Gala apple, anise, black currant candy, fresh ginger and biscuit. Fine balance. Drink now through 2018. 16,500 cases made. $63 (wow, note the price!!) – 91/100”. Robert Parker rated it a 90!

And, it costs much less than you would pay for regular mass-marketed Champagne. Here are some examples of the prices of ordinary Champagne currently available at the LCBO (not a 1^er Cru in the bunch, let alone one with Grand Cru juice as well):

Ain’t it wonderful when you don’t have to support all those expensive advertising campaigns? Order six or twelve of this fabulous value!

Alison Napjus has this to say about it in the November 15, 2012 edition of the ‘Wine Spectator’ – “This offers lovely balance, a finely detailed texture and delicate acidity that focuses the subtle flavors of ripe plum, wild strawberries, and melon fruit. A hint of almond-tinged financier and mineral notes add complexity. Drink now through 2018. 5,000 cases made. $67 (note, our price is $20 less!!) - 91/100”

At least $25 less than anything comparable at the LCBO, it is a big hit with our Members. Order your festive six or twelve bottles now.

Only 2,000 bottles of this very special cuvée were produced. It was fashioned from equal parts Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and topped off with a light dose of oak-aged liqueur. The grapes were hand harvested and pressed in whole bunches. Alcoholic fermentation was at 17°C and malolactic fermentation occurred in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks. The bottled wines were horizontally aged in traditional chalk cellars for at least 8 years. The wines are left to rest an additional two months after dosage (once the sediment has been disgorged, the addition of a wine and sugar-based liqueur) before they are shipped.

This prestigious cuvée is at once elegant, rich and voluptuous. It is a pleasure to discover when celebrating life’s special moments. I have not personally tasted this Champagne, but Eva assures me that it is truly wonderful. Order your most exclusive bubbly now.

Champagne Forget-Brimont Grand Cru Sampler - 12.0% Alc./Vol.       $63/$378 for 6
What a grand way to sample Champagne Forget-Brimont’s two Grand Cru wines- the Rosé Brut Grand Cru and the Blanc de Blanc Grand Cru! You get three bottles of each in the most elegant six-pack. Click here to order.

The LCBO is the only entity authorized to sell beverage alcohol in Ontario. Arthur Sellers & Company and Arthur’s Cellar Wine Club do not sell or markup beverage alcohol, but rather, arrange for customers to purchase it from the LCBO. Our prices indicated above and on our website include the LCBO sale price plus a fee to cover the cost of sourcing, handling and marketing the wine. The LCBO’s sale prices are available on request.

Champagne Facts

• The AOC Champagne is comprised of 321 communes covering 31,000 hectares; each is classified on a scale from 80 to 100.
• Only 17 communes are rated 100; these are the Grand Cru.
• A further 46 communes are rated between 90 and 99; these are the Premier Cru (fewer than 20% are grand Cru or 1er Cru).
• Champagne can be made from only three grape varieties – Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay.
• More Pinot Noir is grown in the Champagne region than in Burgundy.

What happened to Les Cuvées du Firmament?

We are still waiting for Frank Léonor to send us several bits of information we need before we can go to press. With any luck it will follow our current Champagne Forget-Brimont offer.

These superb, well-priced Champagnes are just perfect for weddings and other special occasions or for any time one feels like a treat. Know anybody planning a big event or who is a Champagne fancier? If you do, please pass this note on to them.

Many thanks and cheers!

Jim, Hélène and Kate

www.arthursellers.com
jaswalker@arthursellers.com
www.ofrance.ca
hbuisson@ofrance.ca
kwalker@arthursellers.com